Love or politics? Caesar and Cleopatra’s relationship continues to garner numismatic attention two millennia later

Possibly the most famous, and disruptive, relationship in history, were those between the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra VII, and the Roman generals, Julius Caesar, and Mark Anthony. Caesar was the first to succumb to her charms, bearing him a son they named Caesarian (Little Caesar), although Caesar never acknowledged the child as his own. In fact, he designated Octavian, his grandnephew, as his successor, the future emperor, Augustus. When Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE, Cleopatra, who was in Rome, fled back to Egypt. Just a few short years later, Rome was at war with itself.

The coin depicts Caesar, in classic Roman garb, embracing a semi-naked Cleopatra. Both are extensively highlighted with colour and gilding. There’s an almost conspiratorial vibe to the pair. Caesar is wearing a ring on his right hand, and it’s embedded with a genuine certified ruby. The background scene is one of Egyptian temples and obelisks carved with hieroglyphs. There’s no mistaking where the scene is set.

The obverse is T $ S Coin’s custom design, this time bearing the coat-of-arms of Cameroon as the issuing nation. It’s always been a favourite here, and nice to see a producer make the effort on what is often the forgotten face. It comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, and is available to order now. A good release, and a welcome return to something based more in historical fact, than historical fiction.